Candidates for Virginia attorney general prepare for Thursday debate

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - Another week, another debate as we inch closer to Election Day.

On Thursday, the University of Richmond will play host to 90-minute debate.

Republican incumbent Jason Miyares and Democrat Jay Jones, candidates for attorney general, will battle over who is best to be in the position of the commonwealth’s top cop.

“Miyares would be crazy not to focus on all of Jay Jones’ problems. And Jones will have some response but it’s been pitiful to this point,” said Larry Sabato, UVa Center for Politics executive director.

Those problems recently came to light.

In January 2022, Jones was clocked doing 116 miles per hour in New Kent County and did community service for his political action committee.

That deal is now under investigation by the New Kent County commonwealth’s attorney.

And then Jones faced calls to withdraw from the race after text messages he sent in 2022 were made public.

The messages contain violent remarks aimed at then-Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert and his family.

“He can’t defend them cause they’re just horrific, so how is he going to try to explain them. It’s going to be a very difficult task,” said State Sen. Mark Peake, RPV Chairman.

“I’m convinced and I’m confident that Jay shows up and shares what he shared with me and others privately, share that again publicly, said State Sen. Lamont Bagby, DPVA chairman.

He added, “I think that will go a long way.”

Virginia Democrats are hopeful Jones can move past the controversies and talk policy.

The strategy is to put Miyares on defense over his ties to President Donald Trump and public pressure campaigns we’ve seen at universities in the commonwealth.

“This is probably the most important race because of all the things that are going on legally, not only here in the commonwealth but pushed down from Washington, D.C., said Bagby.

For Virginia Republicans, they hope Miyares holds Jones to task over what they call extreme liberal legislation created during the George Floyd revolution when Democrats controlled all three branches of state government.

“Of course, they’re going to hammer Jason on where he stands on Donald Trump’s policies and he will have an answer for that about where he stands,” said Peake.

Thursday’s debate can be watched HERE on the University of Richmond’s website at 6 p.m.

This will mark the final debate of the election season.

The candidates for lieutenant governor could not come to an agreement on a debate.

Republican John Reid said he would debate anytime, anywhere with Democrat Ghazala Hashmi. Hashmi never responded.